Hollywood Grove/Spaulding Square Historic Area

Hollywood Grove/Spaulding Square Historic Area

Hollywood Grove is a small neighborhood comprised of Turn-of-the-20th-Century houses in the foothills of the Hollywood Hills. The neighborhood, a collection of Craftsman and American Colonial Revival bungalows (with noticeable number of Period Revival houses as well), stands out as a strong indication of what a typical residential subdivision once looked like in the Hollywood community. Wide front yards with lush landscaping, front porches that embrace the sun, and views of rolling mountains and the ubiquitous Hollywood Sign make this former avocado grove an indelible part of the history of Los Angeles.

A neighborhood of modest one-story Period Revival styles houses built between 1916 and 1926, Spaulding Square was named after real estate speculator Albert Starr Spaulding who purchased and subdivided the land in 1914. Spaulding attracted buyers to the area using a “lecture and lunch” strategy whereby interested buyers received a free streetcar ride, a meal, and a talk on the endless possibilities of the area. Sales were also fueled by the rise of the film industry. The neighborhood location off Sunset Boulevard—fast becoming the major route between studios in Hollywood and stars’ homes in Beverly Hills—made it an appealing place for film technicians and up-and-coming actors to settle. Actress Lucille Ball and director Hugo Haas both lived in the area.

*Please note that the MLS/Claw does not categorize Historic Districts and, as such, some properties may be listed that are adjacent to the HPOZ neighborhoods or in the same zip code. Please feel free to contact us with any questions you have regarding the historic status of a home.

Recognizing the need to identify and protect neighborhoods with distinct architectural and cultural resources, the City of Los Angeles has developed an expansive program of Historic Preservation Overlay Zones (HPOZs). HPOZs, commonly known as historic districts, provide for review of proposed exterior alterations and additions to historic properties within designated districts.